In a world that often equates wealth with prosperity, the tragic ends of men like Adolf Merckle and Thomas H. Lee serve as reminders that prosperity without God is fleeting and empty. Merckle, once a German billionaire with a net worth peaking at $9.2 billion, built a vast empire in pharmaceuticals, cement, and more—yet when the 2008 financial crisis ravaged his companies, he was left feeling utterly broken and powerless. At 74, he took his own life by stepping in front of a train. Similarly, Thomas H. Lee, a pioneering private equity financier and billionaire, achieved extraordinary success on Wall Street—yet in 2023, at age 78, he died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his Manhattan office.
These tragic stories remind us of why it’s so important to understand true prosperity. We need God’s presence more than we need anything, and yet—it’s so easy to get distracted by the here and now. Despite the amazing miracle of our salvation, we so easily return to a pre-deliverance way of thinking.
We’re often just like the Nation of Israel.
Israel witnessed a succession of miracles that defy imagination. They saw God strike Egypt with plague after plague that shattered Pharaoh’s power and proved the Lord alone is God. They walked out of bondage and stood before the Red Sea, trapped—until God split the waters. They crossed on dry ground, and Pharaoh’s army was swallowed behind them. In the wilderness, God fed them with manna from heaven. They had unmistakable proof that God was acting for them, rescuing them, sustaining them, leading them.
And yet, a mere three months later, while Moses was on the mountain for forty days, they grew impatient. They cried out to Aaron, “Make us gods that shall go before us.” (Exodus 33) Aaron made them a golden calf, and they worshiped it. This lesson is sobering—physical miracles are never enough.
Deliverance from Egypt (which is also symbolic of deliverance from sin through salvation) does not automatically produce devotion to God.
Prosperity, provision, and even supernatural intervention cannot replace the one thing the soul truly needs: Reconciliation with God and a sense of His presence in a rich, personal way. Moses understood this when he prayed to the Lord:
“If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.” Exodus 33:15
Prosperity without God is poverty.
That is why we need to remember that the greatest miracle that ever happens on this earth is when a person surrenders their life to Christ and accepts His free gift of salvation. The presence Moses longed for is fully realized in Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, God with us.
God is our greatest prosperity; for He is the author of all the best blessings!
Jesus warned us not to confuse earthly gain with true wealth:
“What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” Mark 8:36
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21
Jesus didn’t hide the ball about how to have true prosperity. He said:
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:31-33
Real prosperity is found in God Himself. The Bible teaches us:
“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalms 16:11
“Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.” Psalms 37:4-6
Eternal prosperity is measured in fruit that remains forever—souls saved, disciples made, and lives transformed. Jesus gives us the greatest opportunity for this eternal prosperity:
“I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain.” John 15:16
It is dangerously easy to become distracted by building our own kingdom on this earth—even after we’ve witnessed God’s incredible goodness. Idols like—success, control, approval, and comfort—will ALWAYS tempt us, and they always lead to poverty of the soul. But living in a strong awareness of God’s presence is our greatest treasure. To possess Christ in our soul and to be guided by Him to bring others into His kingdom—produces wealth that can never be taken away.
Prayer:
Lord, forgive me for the times I have chased prosperity without Your presence. Forgive me for building my own golden calves of comfort, control, or success while neglecting the richness of knowing You. Teach me to treasure Your Presence above every earthly blessing. Let my soul find true wealth in the joy of my salvation, Your abiding presence, and eternal fruit that remains. Root my heart in You so deeply that my life overflows with the fruit of Your Spirit and becomes a testimony that draws others to Jesus. You are the greatest treasure of my heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
4 Responses
Amen! Colossians 2:27
Amen! A thankful heart is a prosperous heart!
My husband Tom is an invalid bed bound or wheel chair. He was mean to me and our kids sometimes over the years. I still love him but sometimes I get frustrated with our situation. He is coming incontinent, both urine and bowels. Sometimes I feel that this is a punishment to us. How should I pray?
Dear Elaine:
I understand how heavy your heart must feel right now—caring for your loved one while navigating frustration, past hurts, and the health challenges. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed; God invites us to bring our honest emotions to Him in prayer, as David did in the Psalms, pouring out his complaints and then turning to trust in God’s faithfulness.
“I cry out to the Lord with my voice; With my voice to the Lord I make my supplication. I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then You knew my path. In the way in which I walk they have secretly set a snare for me. Look on my right hand and see, for there is no one who acknowledges me; refuge has failed me; no one cares for my soul.
I cried out to You, O Lord: I said, “You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living. Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low; deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Your name; the righteous shall surround me, for You shall deal bountifully with me.” Psalms 142:1-7
Remember, suffering in this broken world isn’t necessarily punishment. Jesus taught that when His disciples asked about a man born blind, saying, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned… but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” (John 9:3) Instead of viewing your situation as retribution, lean into God’s promise that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” (Romans 8:28)
When you pray, start by being real with God about your frustrations and hurts—He already knows your heart. (Psalm 139:1-4) Confess any resentment, ask for His help to forgive as He has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31-32 says to “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger… Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Seek God’s strength and ask Him to fill you with His Spirit so you can love patiently, as described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7:
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
Pray for practical grace too—wisdom in caregiving, peace in the messiness, and perhaps support from others, knowing that God provides for ALL needs. (Philippians 4:19). End by thanking Him for the love you still feel for your loved one and ask the Lord to change his heart. Prayer is an extraordinary gift. When you are born again, you have the privilege to engage the power of Almighty God!
Here’s a sample prayer you can use or adapt:
Heavenly Father,
You are the God who sees me in my weariness and hears my cries. I come to You today as I care for my loved one, who is bed-bound and struggling with serious health issues—it’s so hard, Lord, and sometimes I feel frustrated and alone in this caregiving. Forgive me for the times I’ve harbored bitterness from past hurts when he was mean to me and the family; help me to let go of that, as Your Word commands. Send Your Spirit to change his heart and help him see that what He needs most is You.
I still love him, Father, but I need Your strength to love him well in this season. Teach me patience and kindness, reminding me that YOUR “love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Corinthians 13:7). Keep my mind on You and Your great grace towards me so that the thoughts of unforgiviness will be banished and I can be free to love as I am loved. Bind any thoughts that are not from You—and I pray that this time of suffering can display Your glory. Turn this trial into something good, as You promise: “In all things God works for the good of those who love him.” (Romans 8:28)
Give me joy and peace in the midst of these challenges so that my family and others can see You in me. Thank You for Your unfailing love and faithfulness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Pray daily. Read God’s Word daily—especially the Psalms. Ask the Spirit to guide your prayers. Consider journaling your prayers because sometimes it helps to go back and be reminded about what God has shown you. Utilize your church community for support. Most of all—don’t let this situation derail you from loving and serving the Lord! God is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18), and He WILL carry you through.
Suffering is a part of life for all of us but it’s how we allow God to carry us through for His glory that ensures it will not be a wasted opportunity.